week 7 special features
BLUES ON THE OUSE at the Ent Shed on 14 June at 7.30 pm brings local legendary blues musicians to the stage: Andy Gilbert, Andy Powell and former Trogs bass guitarist, Dave Barber.
Dave Barber (Bass Guitarist pictured above)
We are privileged to have the services of Dave Barber as our bassist in the houseband. Dave has worked for many years as a professional musician (guitarist / bass guitarist / keyboard Player / vocalist), record producer, recording studio engineer, M.C. and disc jockey. He has written the following about himself:
I began my musical career playing guitar at the age of twelve and won first prize in a school music competition performing the classical song "Greensleeves". Having an excellent record collection I was asked, in 1968, to provide a disco for a local dance. This lead to my being invited to work as a resident D.J. at two Welwyn Garden City Clubs - The Shamrock Club & The Hyde Club. In 1973 I began my professional career working as guitarist with the resident band at Mecca's 'Tiffany's' Night Club in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.
Since then I have worked with many fine groups and duos in the U.K.
In 1997 I was asked to assist in writing and recording the music for the Top Hat Stage & Screen School's 1997 Show "Toffs 'n' Scruffs". The show was performed at the Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage, Herts in November 1997. This lead to further work with the show's Musical Director Colin Frechter. Colin is famous for his production / arranging work with artists "The Troggs", "The Bay City Rollers", "The Four Tops", "Showaddywaddy", "Shakin' Stevens", "Elaine Paige", "The Tornados" and "Freddie Starr" to name a few. Colin and myself recently worked with "The Tornados" in the Recording studio. Recording a new "Tornados" album - "Space Themes", this is for sale at Tornado concerts.
Colin and myself recorded a new, instrumental three track C.D. solo single for Roger LaVern (original Keyboard player for "The Tornados" - "Telstar" and "Globetrotter"), titled "Piano". The "Piano" single was released under the name "Franz Winkelfeffer", but sadly it failed to set the Top 40 alight. (For more information see www.coda-uk.co.uk/roger_lavern.htm )
In March 1998, I was asked to assist in the producing of a C.D. "From Hilltop To The Ryde" for Welwyn / Hatfield Town Council. This has included recording many of the local artists featured on the C.D. using my portable recording equipment. I have also written, and perform, one track on this compilation.
I have also worked for "The Troggs" finding four 'dolly bird' girl string players (violin x2, viola and cello) for a Royal Albert Concert. (For photos see www.coda-uk.co.uk/Troggs1.htm )
2007 saw me assisting Miami, Florida Radio Station 'wmxj Majic 102.7' as their "British Invasion Expert". I initially took part in live on air telephone interviews and later they bravely allowed me to arrange interviews with UK 'British Invasion' stars and co-host a live 2 hour "British Invasion" show. (The show apparently received many favourable comments from Florida listeners - at least I wasn't the cause of a large fall in their ratings !!) See www.coda-uk.co.uk/majic.htm for more details and photos.
I also, recently, assisted Tim Rice in finding musicians that he had lost contact with. Since then he invited me to his CD launch and on 1st March 2008 he was kind enough to invite me, along with my wife, to the 40th anniversary of "Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" at the Adelphi Theatre, London. We also enjoyed a pre-show and interval champagne reception with Tim, Andrew Lloyd Webber and many performers from the original 1968 cast.
For photos see www.coda-uk.co.uk/jo.htm.
© Copyright Friends For Life 2008
Andy Gilbert - RAGTIME SOLO
Dave Barber - THE LAST TIME
Andy Powell - LIVE SET
Irene Grant-Jones is the lady in Vintage Red on the dvd - the writer of Vintage Red - and a professional soprano appearing with her her husband Tim (pictured on 13 June entry for Bedford Choral Society Summer Concert), son and daughter, Simeon and Rebecca, in the Festival Prom on 24 May at 7.30 pm in the Bedford 'promming amphitheatre style arena of Erskine May Hall at Bedford Prep School.
Bedford Jersey Arts festival
1 May – 5 July 2009 in Bedfordshire UK
Celebrating 70 years of friendship 1939—2009
“Victoria College, Jersey children evacuated to Bedford School during the Nazi Occupation of Jersey in WWII”
site under construction
visit often-watch the site develop
This website is an ongoing project started in late January 2009.